Spoken Lore

It happened one summer, at the Althing, that the Northern men and those of the West-firths met one another on the wrestling ground in a match according to their districts. The Northerners had rather the worst of it, and their leader was Márr, the son of Glum. Now a certain man of the name of Ingolf, the son of Thorvald, came up, whose father lived at Rangavellir. Márr addressed him thus–”You are a strong-limbed fellow, and ought to be sturdy; do me the favour of going into the match and taking hold.” his answer was–”I will do so for your sake,” and forthwith the man he grappled with went down, and thus it was with the second, and the third, so that the Northerners were well pleased. Then said Márr, “If you want a good word on my part, I shall be ready to help you. What may be your plans?” “I have no plans,” he answered, “but I had an inclination to go northward and get work.” “Well,” rejoined Márr, “I should like you to go with me; I will get you a place.” Ingolf had a good horse of his own, which he called b the name of “Snækoll,” and he went northward to Thverá, after the Thing was over, and staid there some time. Márr asked him one day what he intended to do. “There is and over-looker wanted here, who ought to be somewhat handy; for instance, here is this sledge to be finished, and if you can do that you can do something worth having.” “I should be too glad of such a place,” said Ingolf, “but it has sometimes happened that my horses have caused trouble in the pastures of the cattle.” “No one will talk about that here,” answered Márr; so Ingiolf set to work on the sledge. Glum came up, and looked at what he was doing. “That is a good piece of work,” he observed. “What are your plans?” Ingolf answered, “I have no plans.” Glum replied, “I want an over-looker, are you used to that sort of business?” “Not much, in such a place as this, but I should be glad to stay with you.” “Why should it not be so?” said Glum; “for I see that you and Márr get on well together.” When Márr came home Ingolf told him what had passed. “I should like it much,” he answered, “if it turns out well, and I will take care, if anything displeases my father, to tell you of it three times; but if you do not set it right then I must stop.” So Ingolf took to his business, and Glum was pleased with him.

Viga-Glum’s Saga, Chapter 13: Paragraph 1

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There was a woman who went about in that part of the country, named Oddbiörg, who amused people by story telling, and was a “spaewife.” A feeling existed that it was of some consequence for the mistress of the house to receive her well, for that what she said depended more or less on how she was entertained. She came to Upsal, and Saldis asked her to spae something, and that something good, of those boys. Her answer was, “Hopeful are these lads; but what their future luck may be it is difficult for me to discern.” Saldis exclaimed, “If I am to judge by this unsatisfactory speech of yours, I suppose you are not pleased with your treatment here.” “You must not,” said Oddbiörg, “let this affect your hospitality, nor need you be so particular about a word of this kind.” “The less you say the better,” replied Saldis, “if you can tell us nothing good.” “I have not yet said too much,” she answered; “but I do not think this love of theirs will last long.” Then Saldis said, “I should have thought my good treatment of you deserved some other omen; and if you deal with evil bodings, you will have a chance of being turned out of doors.” “Well,” said Oddbiörg, “since you are so angry about nothing, I see no need for sparing you, and I shall never trouble you again. But, take it as you will, I can tell you that these boys will hereafter be the death each of the other, and one mischief worse than another for this district will spring from them.” So Oddbiörg is out of our story.

~ Viga Glum’s Saga, Chapter 12: Paragraph 2

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“At dead of night, beneath the sky,

Upon the banks of Eyjafirth,

I saw the spirit stalking by,

In giant stature o’er the earth.

“The goddess of the sword and spear

Stood, in my dream, upon this ground;

And whilst the valley shook with fear,

She tower’d above the mountains round.”

~ Viga-Glum’s Saga, Chapter 9: Vigfuss’ death song

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The temple of Frey was on the south of the river at Hripkelstad. Thorarin, of Espihole, was a prudent and popular man, but his brother Thorvald the crooked was a bully and hard to deal with. Sigmund thought he should be a great man if he could ally himself to the people at Espihole. In the meantime the property of Glum and Astrida was getting less every day, and their condition became uncomfortable, for Sigmund and Thorkel thwarted them, so that in everything they got less than their share. Then Glum says to his mother that he will go abroad, “for I see clearly I shall never get on here, but it may be I shall meet with more luck by means of the reputation of my kindred: I do not like to bear the encroachments of Sigmund, for whom as yet I am no match. However, do not you let go your hold on the land, through your position may be a difficult one.” Glum at that time, when he desired to go abroad, was fifteen years of age.

~ Viga-Glum’s Saga, Chapter 5: Paragraph 4

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